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Massachusetts Recognized for Advancing Building Energy Codes

A team of Massachusetts energy experts has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for its innovative leadership developing and adopting the first state-level local option high-efficiency energy building code, or “stretch” code, in the country.

The Massachusetts Stretch Code Team, comprised of staff from the Department of Public Safety, the Board of Building Regulations and Standards, each under the guidance of Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Secretary Mary Beth Heffernan, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, was presented with the Jeffrey A. Johnson Award on July 19, 2010 at the US Department of Energy’s Energy Codes 2010 Symposium.

“I’m extremely proud of the accomplishments of our stretch code team,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Mary Beth Heffernan. “They recognized the need to build on the energy conservation practices already in place in order to create even greater energy cost savings for owners of homes and businesses constructed under this new code.”

The team was recognized for its collaborative efforts in developing, writing and ultimately getting the stretch code adopted as a local option for municipalities in Massachusetts. Structures designed and built to the new Massachusetts stretch code (known officially as 780 CMR, Appendix 120.AA) will use approximately 20% less energy than a comparable building designed and built to the Massachusetts State Building Code baseline requirements, which utilize the nationally-recognized International Energy Conservation Code-2009.

The Department of Public Safety and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs recognized the value of making a singular statewide stretch energy code available for cities and towns that want to set energy efficiency standards for construction higher than those required by the state building code. The new code is local option but it provides municipalities a singular optional energy efficient stretch code.

"It's been wonderful to see cities and towns of all different sizes and demographics embrace the stretch code – in doing so, recognizing the environmental benefits and huge potential for savings that comes with making homes, schools, offices and other buildings in their communities more energy efficient," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles. "To date 44 communities in Massachusetts have adopted the stretch code and we anticipate that this number will continue to rise."

The stretch code was developed out of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership’s (NEEP’s) Model Progressive Building Energy Codes Policy which provides guidelines for states to incorporate tougher energy codes into their code adoption process. The overall aim is to help lead to continual improvements in building practices such that by 2030, net-zero energy buildings (buildings that produce as much energy as they use) should comprise the majority of new construction.

“The Massachusetts Stretch Code would have never been possible without the leadership of Governor Patrick, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the Department of Public Safety and the Board of Building Regulations and Standards, and MA Department of Energy Resources,” said Carolyn Sarno, Senior Program Manager at NEEP. “The success of this effort truly exemplifies what can be achieved through collaborative work.”

The recipients of the 2010 Jeff Johnson Award on behalf of the Massachusetts Stretch Code Team include:

Tom Riley, Department of Public Safety
Mike Guigli, Department of Public Safety
The Board of Building Regulations and Standards (the state board that promulgates the MA Building Code)
Ian Finlayson, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Mark Breslow, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Isaac Elnecave, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
Carolyn Sarno, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships